https://ojs.sazu.si/folia_bio_geo <p><em>Folia biologica et geologica, </em>ISSN 2335-2914, (Ex: <em>Razprave, Slovenska akademija znanosti in umetnosti, Razred za naravoslovne vede / Dissertationes classis IV</em>; ISSN 0352-5090), is a scientific periodical of the Classis IV: Natural sciences of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, that publishes original, not previously published original scientific papers and review articles in the field of natural, life and earth sciences, including basic research fields, such as biology, ecology, physiology, genetics, botany, zoology, microbiology, mycology, molecular biology and bioinformatics ..., as well as applied research fields, such as agriculture, forestry, veterinary sciences, medicine and pharmaceutical sciences, as well as geology, paleontology, and nature, life and earth sciences, including natural history, bio-based materials and natural and cultural heritage linked to conservation of the environment, nature and biodiversity at all levels.</p> <p>The published articles refer mainly to researches in the Slovenian ethnic region, and also in Europe and elsewhere being of importance, necessity and comparison to our researches, thereby contributing to the exchange of the latest scientific findings in biology and geology.</p> <p>The target readership is researchers, policymakers, students, and others, studying or applying these research results at various levels. The journal also publishes shorter contributions addressing current and scientifically relevant developments in the fields. Articles are published in Slovenian and/or English language. </p> en-US hojka.kraigher@gozdis.si (Hojka Kraigher) petra.vide@sazu.si (Petra Vide Ogrin) Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:53:07 +0200 OJS 3.3.0.8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss 60 https://ojs.sazu.si/folia_bio_geo/article/view/8094 <p class="01Abstrakt" style="text-indent: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-GB">Climate change, land use pressure, and low seedling survival rates are affecting forest restoration; therefore, innovative approaches that improve germination and early plant establishment are becoming increasingly important. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the influence of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPM) on seed germination in forest tree species. PGPM, including bacteria and fungi, may influence germination through several mechanisms, such as phytohormone production, nutrient mobilization, stress mitigation, and pathogen suppression. The analysed studies include a wide range of tree species across diverse ecological regions and experimental conditions. PGPM effects on germination vary among specific combinations of host-tree species and microbial strains or consortia. Some studies report significant increases in germination percentage and speed, others show neutral or even negative effects. Bacterial genera such as </span><span class="01tekst-italic"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Bacillus</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">, </span><span class="01tekst-italic"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Pseudomonas</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">, and </span><span class="01tekst-italic"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Azospirillum</span></span><span lang="EN-GB">, along with fungal groups like </span><span class="01tekst-italic"><span style="font-size: 10.0pt;">Trichoderma</span></span><span lang="EN-GB"> and mycorrhizal fungi, are among the most frequently studied. Environmental factors, including soil properties, climate, and experimental conditions, strongly influence PGPM performance. Overall, the reviewed evidence indicates that PGPM may improve seed germination in specific host tree or microorganism combinations, particularly under controlled conditions. However, the practical application and selection of microbial strains require careful consideration of the environmental conditions and their effectiveness under field conditions. </span></p> Robert Logar, Tina Unuk Nahberger Copyright (c) 2026 Folia biologica et geologica https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0 https://ojs.sazu.si/folia_bio_geo/article/view/8094 Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200